State legislation allowing AC to sell the land went into effect on Saturday.

"Over the years, numerous groups have approached us about buying or developing some of that land, but we couldn't even consider selling it before," said Lynn Thornton, director of administrative services and human resources at AC. "Now we have that option."

AC owns about 1,500 acres on its East Campus, which is located east of the Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport.

The college uses about 70 acres for its industrial training programs. AC also rents 331 houses on the property.

The remaining land is either vacant or leased.

AC sought legislation, which took the form of HB 534, that would allow the college to sell the unused property.

"We have all this land just sitting out there, and we bear the expense of maintaining it," Thornton said. "If there are opportunities to develop that property to benefit that area, we'd be interested in looking at (them)."

Four entities currently lease land at East Campus: Amarillo Montessori Day School, The Country Church, Village Park Church and Dumpster Refurbishing of Amarillo.

None of the current tenants have been asked to leave or buy their leased property.

"At first, we thought we were in jeopardy," said B.J. Black, director and owner of the Montessori Day School. "We don't have the money to relocate or build new."

Black said she has talked with AC officials since becoming aware of the new law and understands that no immediate action will be taken.

She said the day school would consider buying the land it rents.

"Our relationship with all those who lease land there has been good," Thornton said. "We're not looking to kick anybody out on the street."

No requests to buy any of the land have been made, and any transactions must receive approval from AC's board of regents.

"AC won't do anything without the guidance of the board of regents," Thornton said. "Any discussion of selling land at this point is very premature."

The move to revamp AC's East Campus has been ongoing for more than a year.

The college has plans to create a "core" campus on the land by moving all its training buildings into one centralized location.

"Providing a central corridor to the campus would hold with AC's philosophy of walking campuses," Thornton said. "Having everything together would make this campus more attractive and better facilitating to our needs."

AC took possession of the property, the location of the Texas State Technical College, in 1995. It was renamed East Campus in 2002.

The site started out in 1942 as the Amarillo Army Air Field, then became the Amarillo Air Force Base in 1951.

The base closed in 1968, but two years later was converted to the Texas State Technical Institute, which became the Texas State Technical College.

The property is located within the Amarillo city limits and inside Potter County.